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| Thread ID: 53567 | 2005-01-21 04:24:00 | Diagnostic Tool required | Mercury (1316) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 316295 | 2005-01-21 04:24:00 | Win 98SE hangs at irregular intervals. Have just reformatted it and added back 3 or 4 programs. It hung on me 5 or 6 times during the process. Somehow I don't think the reformat has fixed the problem... Current Software: Win 98 Office 2000 Age of Mythology Nvidia graphics driver (2 years old - latest version didn't work with Age of Myth) Latest audio software for the motherboard System: MSI KM4M-L ATX motherboard Ramos 256Mb DDR333 - PC2700 Ram GE Force 2MX Graphics card AMD Duron 800MHz processor 40Gb IDE Hard disk drive 7200rpm The system is 3 years old but the motherboard and RAM were replaced a year ago when it died. Any recommendations for a good diagnostic tool to figure out where the problem is? |
Mercury (1316) | ||
| 316296 | 2005-01-21 04:28:00 | Update the BIOS if theres a newer update than what u have.... When exactly does it hang (mostly)? Before 98 loads? While using 98? What programs are we talking about?? |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 316297 | 2005-01-21 05:00:00 | Do you get any error messages on screen? Had similar problem with friend's PC and problem was the Nividia graphics card but it always came up with an error message. Do a Google search for Nividia graphics card problems & you will be surprised how many people seem to have problems with 2 - 3 Yr old Nividia cards. | Peter M (852) | ||
| 316298 | 2005-01-21 09:31:00 | When does it hang? When you least expect it. The answer is random halts - whilst loading software or suddenly for no reason what so ever. Since the reformat it has happened after Win 98 has loaded (not sure about before - I'd just hear swearing and deep breathing and a request for me to fix it). It is a sudden halt - the mouse and keyboard freeze. Only answer is to hit the reset button and restart - it doesn't require power off at the wall. I had thought that it could be the graphics card driver - unfortunately the latest driver caused problems with The Game (which caused more deep breathing etc). Working on a process of elimination I could try disabling the card and using the motherboard outlet. However I'd be interested to know if there is a diagnostic program that would work. |
Mercury (1316) | ||
| 316299 | 2005-01-21 09:50:00 | Having your computer hang like that, especially during software installation (or OS) can indicate faulty memory. It wouldn't hurt to download memtest (http://www.memtest86.com/) and let it run for a couple of cycles. You can find full instructions on the site, and it is run off a bootable floppy. Another way of testing this, is to remove one stick of memory at a time (if you have two or more sticks) and see if the problem continues. |
Jen (38) | ||
| 316300 | 2005-01-21 09:58:00 | Us old hands would first of all suspect plug and socketry from those erratic symptoms. | TonyF (246) | ||
| 316301 | 2005-01-21 10:04:00 | I have a stick of Ram here that done 46000 passes with memtest86 with no errors, Yet crashes any machine you install it into.....Unless your running memtest86........ :badpc: :badpc: :badpc: :dogeye: | Metla (12) | ||
| 316302 | 2005-01-21 10:09:00 | Check the BIOS settings and make sure the FSB & Multiplier settings are correct for your CPU | Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 316303 | 2005-01-21 10:13:00 | I'll try Memtest over the weekend and see how I get on . I'd like to think it's the graphics card though - that way I get an upgrade and he gets mine! Am researching graphic card problems at the moment . |
Mercury (1316) | ||
| 316304 | 2005-01-21 19:23:00 | Update the BIOS if theres a newer update than what u have.... Unless you know that updating is going to fix a problem don't touch the Bios. It is not to be taken litely. Stuff it up and you have a totaly dead PC. Sounds more like a memory problem to me. |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
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